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5 thoughts on “Korean Gender Reader, November 17-23”

Isn’t it hugely problematic that the ‘여성부’ is named as it is and does so many stupid things that ‘solidarity for men’ activists can come out with arguments you can’t help but support and that many people just associate those dumb policies with the ‘여성’ part .

Well, actually it’s the 여성가족부, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and it’d overwhelmingly be the inane censorship by its Youth Protection Committee that gives the Ministry its reputation. But yeah, I hear you, and I don’t think the Man of Korea guys care for the distinction.

To the point, the 여성가족부 has been abused and used for some pretty non-feminist ends by the 이명박 administration. It still does not mean that the 남성연대 and their kin have arguments that need any support from reasonable people.

Good point, especially its support for the (re)criminalization of abortion. Just to play Devil’s Advocate though (not that I’m saying you disagree with my next), and expand on our point about it being abused by the 이명박 administration, I’ve often wondered to what if any extent the organization could really challenge 이명박’s edicts, especially as he originally pledged to abolish it, and until the family part was (re)added it was a very marginal Ministry, with only 0.5% of the total government budget (expanded to 2.0% with the family addition). Having said that, my mental image of a group of plucky feminists there, very uncomfortable with what they have to do, may be completely inaccurate and naive really. For all I know, it’s full of 이명박 yes-(wo)men and cronies!

Well, whatever you think about 남성연대 generally, they are right about this the “war” on pornography. Why exactly “regular” (for want of a better word) pornography is being conflated with sex crimes against children is beyond me.